How to Judge Appearance in a Rodeo Queen Pageant

A rodeo queen pageant usually calls for judges to consider the contestant's knowledge of rodeo and horsemanship. She is also judged by "appearance," which covers many factors. Each pageant may have its own rules for what falls under appearance, and how much of a factor it is in the overall score. However, there are some general things a novice judge can look for.

Instructions

1. Contestants should wear well-fitted western styled clothing that is clean, pressed and in good condition. Outfits need to be appropriate for each specific event. Leather outfits are nice but not necessary and should never be scored higher than other types of fabrics worn. The pants should fit well and snug with no panty lines showing. Front pockets should be cut out with the edges stitched down. They should be well starched and creased and never faded. Skirts and dresses should come down at least to mid-calf, and the leg should not show while sitting. Shirts should be tapered and never baggy or bloused-out over the belt. Long sleeves should be worn at all times.

2. The queen candidates need to have well polished boots with the bottoms blackened, white top stitching colored the same as the soles, and no scuff marks. Dress or modeling boots are appropriate for almost every event. The boots should match the jeans or skirt or complement the outfit.

3. A queen's hat should be clean (no smudges or dust) and well-shaped (following the Miss Rodeo America trends). The felt band should match the hat, and should not have side rivets. Black, white and bone are always acceptable, but straw hats are not.

4. Contestants should always wear a belt with a buckle. The belts should match the pants or skirt. Jewelry should be appropriate and enhance the outfit and doesn't have to be western styled. For horsemanship events, the only jewelry acceptable is a small pair of earrings. Extra piercings are unacceptable.

5. The hair should not touch the women's face. It should be well-groomed and styled and curled according to length. Makeup should be age appropriate and well-applied with colors complementing the outfit. Eyebrows should be plucked. Foundation and blush needs to be well-blended (no clown cheeks) with lipstick applied. More makeup is appropriate for the arena and onstage for modeling.

6. The contestant's nails need to be manicured with clear or french tip polish -- no colored polish. Acrylic nails are acceptable but should be short.

Tips & Warnings

• These guidelines are general and might not apply to every rodeo queen contest or pageant. Check with the coordinator on any differences she might have.

References

• Stampede Days Rodeo
• Miss Rodeo America